Meet Eden Vardy | Founder / Executive Director of the Farm Collaborative

We had the good fortune of connecting with Eden Vardy and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Eden, let’s talk legacy – what do you want yours to be?
I would like to be remembered as having done everything in my power to leave the world better than I found it, helping to reconnect humanity as a “keystone” species that stewards land in a way that works with nature in regenerating itself.

Can you give our readers an introduction to your business? Maybe you can share a bit about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
The Farm Collaborative is a collaboration for Regeneration. We focus on regenerating the food system from all angles, including growing food and sharing how to do it more regeneratively, connecting children and community to nature through farming and food systems, and supporting farmers with 0% interest loans, farmer training programs and resources.

The Farm Collaborative’s mission is to accelerate the regenerative agriculture movement locally
to transform the health of people and the planet. Our vision is to facilitate a collaboration for systemic change from the ground up,
to co-create a new reality where the interconnections between farming, nature, and community give rise to a new standard for the food system,
one that promotes human health and connection to nature and reverses climate change.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
We’d spend most of it outside!

Visit farms across the western slope

Visit the mountains

Visit the rivers and waterways

Visit some state parks

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
So many!

My family for supporting me and trusting that my unusual ideas are worth pursuing.
My teachers, include Travis Moore and Jerome Osentowksi for introducing me to regenerative agriculture / permaculture in the 90’s and for all my agriculture mentors over the years that have showed me how to do things better
My ancestors and ancestors of land stewards for teaching and helping us remember our inherent nature
Governor Jared Polis for appointing me to the Colorado Parks and Wildlife Commission
Corby Kummer and the team at the Aspen Institute for selecting me as a Food Leader’s fellow
The team at Eisenhower Fellowships for providing my Eisenhower Agricultural Fellowship in Brazil and France
And most of all my kids for helping me remember daily why my work is worth it.

Website: www.farmco.org

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thefarmcollaborative/

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/edenvardy/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/farmcollaborativeaspen/